james



(No Model.)

W. H. JAMES. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL CLOSING OF ELECTRIC CIRCUITS IN SIGNAL BOXES. Pate'nted'Oct. 11, 1892.

INYENTDF\ -WITNESSES m! ucnms units 03., PHOTO-H1140 was" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. JAMES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. HOWARD WATCH AND CLOCK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL CLOSING 0F ELECTRIC CIRCUITS IN SIGNAL-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,206, dated October 11, 1892.

Application filed February 16, I892. Serial No. 421,681. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. JAMES, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Preventing the Accidental Closing of an Electric Circuit in Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a specification. I g

It is the object of my invention to provide means for preventing the closing of an electric circuit in a signal box or apparatus in the event of the breakage of the actuatin g-sprin g.

My invention consists in connecting one end of the actuating-spring with a pivoted arm or other suitable device, which arm when the spring is intact is supported by the latter in contact with means which permits of the circuit being closed through the mechanism or movement of the box; but when the spring breaks, the arm will drop so as to permanently break the circuit through the movement.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon forming a part of this specification, the same letters and figures designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of the mechanism or movement of the signal box or apparatus having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

The movement or mechanism shown in the drawings is such as is adaptedto have the circuit closed and opened in any predetermined series or combination of series that may be desired, though it is not essential to my invention that said means should be of the form or character of that herein shown.

It will appear from the description hereinafter given that my invention is applicable to any movement or signaling device in which electricity is employed and which embraces a spring as the actuating power.

In the drawings, a is the front plate, and b is the back plate, of the movement.

0 is the winding-arbor, on which a ratchet d, having only one tooth, (not shown,) as is common in movements of this kind, is securely fastened.

e designates a wheel, which is provided with tached a click and its spring,'said click engag ing with the ratchet d, as is usual in devices of this kind.

g designates the actuating-spring, one end of which is attached to the arbor 0, around which the spring is for the most part coiled, and the other end being attached to a stud h, which is rigidly fastened to a movable part, a swinging arm 1 pivoted so as to turn freely on a stud j.

is designates a metallic stud fastened rigidly to a plate Z, which plate is in turn fastened to a piece of insulating-fiber or other similar material m.

n designates a rubber tube enveloping the stud k, and 0 is? metallic pin fastened to the stud Z0 and passing through the rubber tube n, so that when the arm 1' is raised and supported by the spring g, as shown in Fig. 1, said arm may rest against or bear upon the pin 0.

p designates a metallic spring mounted on the insulating-fiber q and so located in relation to the teeth of the contact-wheel f that the said teeth as the wheel is revolved may come into contact with the said spring 1). One end 2 of the circuit-wire is attached to the spring p, and the other end 3 of the said circuit-wire is attached to the plate Z. When a tooth of the contact-wheel f is in contact with the springp, the electric circuit will be completed through the plate Z, stud 70, pin 0, arm 2', and the various metallic parts of the movement to the teeth of the contact-wheel and the spring 19. y

As the movement of a signal-box is usually incased in a close-fitting case, in the event of the spring g breaking it is very liable as it uncoils to come into contact with the contactspring p, the spring 9 commonly breaking near the end where it was attached to the stud h. Furthermore, one of the teeth of the contactwheel f is liable to jump into contact with the spring 1) when the spring g breaks, thereby closing the circuit permanently until repairs can be made. By my improvements these difficulties and objections are overcome, since the instant a spring breaks the arm 1' drops, so as to break the electrical connection of the plate or contact-piece should be insulated from other parts of the signaling movement, and that the pivoted arm should be electrically connected with such other parts and be adapted to be raised and supported by the actuating-spring in electrical contact with the contact plate or piecel and to fall away therefrom and break electrical connection through the movement upon the breakage of the actuating-spring.

Having thus described the nature of my ina vent'ion and explained a way of constructing and using the same,though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modesofits employment, I declare that what I claimis 1. A signal-movement comprising in its construction a plate or contact-piece,with which the wire of one pole of an electric circuit is connected, insulated from other parts of the movement, a movable part in electrical connection with the movement and adapted to be supported in contact with and fall away from the contact plate or piece, and the actuatingspring adapted to be connected with the said arm and sppport the same in contact with the plate or contact-piece.

2. Asignal-movement comprising in its construction a stud lo, provided with a pin 0, connected with one pole of an electric circuit and insulated from the other pole, a movable part 2', connected with the other pole of an electric circuit, and an actuated spring adapted to be connected with said arm and support the same in contact with the pin 0, as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my' name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this th day of February, A. D. 1892.

WILLIAM -H.' J AMES.-

Witnesses:

A. D. HARRISON, C. F. BROWN. 

